‘We feared he might do something drastic’

The death of dismissed police inspector Arun Borude, who was accused of repeatedly raping a minor, has sent a shockwave through the police force and legal circles.

Naveen Chomal, who was to represent Borude before the Supreme Court, alleged that he died under dubious circumstances.

“We want a judicial inquiry into two aspects — how he was falsely implicated in a case and who is behind it. We also want an inquiry into the circumstances leading to his death,” Chomal said, ruling out suicide. “I spoke to Borude just a couple of days ago, and he sounded confident. He spoke logically without any signs of tension. He was hopeful of a favourable order from the Supreme Court.”

An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media, termed Borude’s death as “sad” while another who knew Borude since his early days in the force said he was too shocked to react. “What can I say? I don’t how this can happen,” said the officer who was known as a close friend of Borude’s.

A batchmate of Borude’s said that though they had worked together only for a brief period, they were good friends. “All of us were worried about him since the allegations surfaced. We feared that he might do something drastic. What bothered us more was that he went missing along with his wife and daughter,” the officer said. Borude is survived by his wife, daughter and a son who is studying abroad.

An officer said Borude may have been worried that the department would prolong his case for years and that’s why he absconded.

“If you look at other cases involving police officers, all of them have languished in jail before being convicted. In some cases, even a charge sheet has not been filed, clouding their future with uncertainty,” the officer said. He said Borude may have feared similar treatment.